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Specsavers Announces $100M Investment to Cover ECPs Start-Up Costs

Specsavers

Specsavers has announced plans to make a $100 Million CDN investment to cover start up costs for new Specsavers locations across the country. The investment, an approach unique to the Canadian market, will cover start up costs of approximately $500,000 for 200 locations.

The initial focus will be on British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

What will the $500,000 per store cover?
Bill Moir, General Manager/Executive VP at Specsavers Canada told Optik the investment will include “the full cost of a Specsavers store, including design, construction, furniture, product displays, technology infrastructure and stock.

Optometry partners will receive a fully-integrated clinic at no charge. Their clinic will be fitted with a state-of-the-art diagnostics environment, equipped with the latest multi-functional auto refraction and detection technology, visual fields equipment, OCT technology, and cloud-based image storage.

Retail partners will receive a newly designed Specsavers store with a world-class range of 1,500 frame styles, colours and designer brands; ophthalmic lenses; and contact lenses providing great value, style, and selection to customers.”

By covering all establishment costs, Specsavers will enable ECPs to start their clinic and optical store debt-free in order that, ” both optometry and retail partners will begin receiving any profit generated from their first month of business,” said Moir.

Optometrists, opticians, and retail partners who qualify for ownership are required to pay a one-time $25,000 fee to receive 40% ownership of the brand new retail store.  

Purpose Driven Investment
The investment decision is uniquely tailored to the Canadian situation. “Every market has different dynamics and needs. In each of them, we design our partnership model to meet the needs of local eyecare professionals. This is the partnership model which we feel will best support independent optometrists in Canada and this investment also signifies our long term commitment to the Canadian market.” said Moir.

According to Moir, the investment announcement is about creating opportunities and empowering independent optometrists to remain independent.

Moir believes that the current market consolidation trends will result in fewer product and service options for consumers and fewer career development opportunities for Canadian ECPs.

“At a time when we’re seeing more and more consolidation in the Canadian market with independent optometrists and opticians being encouraged to sell their practices to a handful of larger players, we intend to reverse that trend and offer an alternative that enables them to own a thriving business, have access to cutting-edge technology and put their patients first.” said Moir

Moir summarizes, “This is a significant investment from Specsavers, but we believe in making long term decisions which means not hesitating to remove barriers and advocate for independent optometrists.”

Optometrists and opticians who want to learn more about the Specsavers partnership can visit specsavers-spectrum.ca.

Click HERE for the full press release and additional information.

This post was updated January 27, 2022

About Specsavers
Currently, Specsavers operates in more than 2,300 locations, encompassing 3,250 optometry and retail partners who look after the eye health of over 41 million customers within the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe, Spain – and now Canada.

Opti Resumes Usual Dates for 2023

opti 2023 will once again be held in its usual spot at the start of the industry’s year, from January 27 to 29. The 2023 event will also mark the launch of its permanent home in Munich.

After being postponed for coronavirus-related reasons until May (May 13 to 15, 2022, Fairground Munich), opti will return to always being held in January and in Munich from next year onwards. From January 27 to 29, 2023, the ophthalmic industry can look forward to starting the year and the new season as usual with the full range of product innovations, specialist knowledge and key notes as well as plenty of scope for making personal contacts.

The original plan of alternating the location of the event between Munich (in even years) and Stuttgart (in odd years) will no longer apply.

Click HERE for the full press release.

WCO Releases Professional Guidance on Childhood Myopia Management

World Council of Optometry and CooperVision logos

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) and CooperVision have partnered to release “A Practical Guide to Managing Children with Myopia”. The professional article is authored by four experienced ocular health and science professionals from around the world. It complements the WCO Standard of Care for Myopia Management by Optometrists Resolution, which embraces evidence-based approaches focused on the three pillars of mitigation, measurement, and management.

The work is available HERE.

The authors collaborated to share their insights on what the WCO Standard of Care entails and how eye care professionals can incorporate it in their fight against the worldwide myopia epidemic.

Dr. Kate Gifford said, “My advice to eye care professionals through this article is just do something, or just do one more thing. We all come from different starting points. Instead of just talking about myopia correction, start talking about myopia management and control.”


Article authors Dr. Carmen Abesamis-Dichoso and Dr. Kate Gifford speak at a global myopia management virtual event presented by the World Council of Optometry and CooperVision February 12, 2022. Register for the free “Putting It Into Practice” event at http://Myopia.WorldCouncilOfOptometry.info.

The World Council of Optometry and CooperVision partnered in early 2021 to raise awareness of myopia progression and embrace a standard of care to manage the condition. The joint initiative is centered around evidence-based approaches without bias toward any management methodologies. The partnership includes a global multi-lingual myopia management resource.

In addition to “A Practical Guide to Managing Children with Myopia”, the World Council of Optometry Standard of Care Resolution and online myopia management resources are available.

Click HERE for the full press release.

OKIA Wins Hong Kong Sustainability Award 2020/21

OKIA Optical was awarded for its green consciousness: the company won the Special Recognition for Outstanding Sustainability Initiative(Environmental Dimension) of the Hong Kong Sustainability Award 2020/21 organized by The Hong Kong Management Association.

Jacky Lam, Managing Director at OKIA

“This year is particularly important for us as after years of efforts put in increasing our company’s sustainability, our hard works were finally seen in the various awards we won. After years in the eyewear industry, we have built a reliable reputation which further demonstrates our ability to anticipate the trends and our deep commitment to offering products that respect the environment.” says Jacky Lam, Managing Director at OKIA.

OKIA’s sustainability projects first kicked off in 2018 and the company continues its sustainability journey by developing upcycled products and green materials.

Click HERE for the full press release.

New Generation Transitions® XTRActive® Lenses with Cutting-Edge Photochromic Technology

Transitions Optical unveiled Transitions® XTRActive® new generation lenses, the latest innovation from Transitions Optical, which will offer the best extra darkness and the best light protection in the clear to dark photochromic category. Transitions XTRActive new generation includes features that enhance the wearer’s life in all settings.   

Offering the best extra darkness in the clear to dark photochromic category, Transitions XTRActive new generation lenses are the darkest photochromic lenses in hot temperatures and the only photochromic lenses achieving category 3 levels of darkness at 35 degrees Celsius[i]. In addition, Transitions XTRActive new generation lenses are the only photochromic lens achieving category 2 levels of darkness in the car[ii], offering maximum darkness at 23 degrees Celsius with no driving restriction[iii]. The technology also offers the best harmful blue light protection across more light situations[iv], including the best blue light protection indoors[v]. As with all Transitions lens technologies, they block 100% of UVA and UVB.

Compared to the Transitions XTRActive lenses on the market today, this new generation is darker overall[vi], darker in hot temperatures and in the car, and up to 35% faster to fade back[vii]. These advances are possible thanks to the new nano-composite matrix technology combined with new, extra powerful broad spectrum dyes which activate in both the UV and visible light spectrum.

“People are experiencing increased symptoms of eye strain and discomfort whether inside from screens or outdoors, and Transitions XTRActive lenses were designed with this issue in mind.  In fact, three out of ten eyeglass wearers are very light sensitiveiv” said Brian O’Neil, Ph.D., global vice president, Innovation, Technology & Operations, Transitions Optical. “Wearers of Transitions Optical technology want flexibility between indoors, outdoors and driving to be better protected at all times. The new generation of Transitions XTRActive provides light protection regardless of the situation.”

Transitions XTRActive new generation lenses will be available in the U.S. and Canada in the third quarter of 2021 in grey, brown, graphite green and in five style mirrors in Canada. Additional details on the timing of availability across materials and designs will be provided by the lens manufacturer partners of Transitions Optical. Availability in other markets will be announced at a later date.

In addition to this new generation, Transitions Optical began the rolling launch of Transitions® XTRActive® Polarized™ in the US and Canada in January 2021. Both products provide extra protection for eyeglass wearers who are frequently in intense light situations or who are very light sensitive. Transitions XTRActive Polarized is an extension of the Transitions XTRActive range bringing the additional benefits of polarization to the extra dark photochromic category, while Transitions XTRActive new generation lenses offer the best extra darkness[viii]. Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses are designed for patients who want extra protection in high-glare situations. The unique polarization technology reduces glare outdoors, providing sharper vision, a larger field of view and bright, vivid colours.

Eyecare professionals (ECPs) will be able to learn more about the benefits Transitions XTRActivenew generation and Transitions XTRActive Polarized lenses on a new virtual learning platform that will be available in April 2021.

Click HERE for the press release.

This post is sponsored by Transitions Optical.


[i] In the clear to dark photochromic category. Tests across polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses at 35°C achieving <18%T using Transitions Optical’s standard testing method.

[ii] Clear to dark photochromic category. Polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses tested at 23°C behind the windshield achieving between 18%T and 43%T.

[iii] Clear to dark photochromic category. Tested on grey lenses across materials at 23°C outdoors achieving >8%T (Category 3 Darkness Levels) using Transitions Optical’s standard testing method.

[iv] Protection from harmful blue light (380nm-460nm) across the following light situations: indoors at 23°C, behind the windshield and outdoors at 23°C, among polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses in the clear to dark photochromic category.

[v] From harmful blue light (380nm-460nm) at 23°C among polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses in the clear to dark photochromic category. 

iv Transitions Optical, Quality of Vision and Vision Experience Test in Controlled Lab Situations (Lab Wearer Testing), U.S., Eurosyn, Q4 2019, N=135.

[vi] Compared to the previous generation, across materials tested on grey lenses at 23°C and 35°C.

[vii] Compared to the previous generation, across materials tested on grey lenses fading back to 70% transmission at 23°C.

[viii] In hot temperatures and in the car in the clear to dark photochromic category.  Tests across polycarbonate and 1.5 grey lenses at 23°C and 35°C using Transitions Optical’s standard testing method.

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